Driving mechanism for motor-vehicles.



H. P. RHODES.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.23, 191Z..

1, 1 08,474. Patented Aug 25, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHE ET 1.

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1 v -Q mam/W QHWWS H. P. RHODES.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION TILED IBBLZS, 1912. 1,1 (38,474 Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

,. ffi 792 0 ETNITED PATENT on HAEEPITGX? P. EHGEES, O SHREVEPDET, LOUISIANA,

22mins MEGHMZSM sea momnvsfizcnss if n'isl,

pecificatien of Letters Patent.

Ems-eased Aug. 25 1911s.

" 'l. Invention remiss to an improvementllpowor therein.

fnrshpr olnsct of the invsntion the A pTOliSiQIl of a separate spring motor for winding" the spring the motor which to drive tns vehicle, in combination with menns for winding the spring of th mentions-cl motoi 5mm one of'the rot ing parts of the vehicle.

A further object of *he invention is t provision of a device this character til. varions'parts of which may he" i'eac t rollsrlby the (lllYBL-l of vehicle 5.. sea-1i. v @inerohjscts of the invention will be an present-from the iletail'll description hominaft e2; when read in connection with ms 2;:- compsnyinigdrawings forming part th er'eof, wherein a convenient emboclimsnt'of'thn' invension is illustrated; and: wherein like chnraoters oi" rsforenoe refer to snnilnr'parts in she several Views.

In the drawing Figure l is a to? plan. view of the frame of a motor ehicle Wlilf'ihe usual. stoeringwheels, and C \ie'sig the shaft notes the rear axis; which may be of any conveninfi type and is provided with the usual driving whsls.

Journalod in-snitaible hearings carried by slit; ffz'zmei K and extending longitudinally of said f'r'ami thre's' slined shafts. a forwir'fdshzfit D; an intermediate shaft D and sr'hfshfifia D The rear shaft ID conassists? the driving shaft pmper of the mellu iiisna anrl'is extended into the usual gfisrenisii casing carried by the rear axle C snl oo'rmeoitecl hy any Well known type of geaiting tiithe di'iving'wheels ofthe vehicle,- Fizs'iy supported in the frame A of the niaoh'in andovez-lying the shaft D is a cos? iii'gfl in Whicllis positioned. a, heavy coil sglzing'E oneencl'of which is connected in anysfiitshle nmnner to the casing E and the other and of'which is connected in any suit- I ahle manner to the shaft D. i The 5 min E corisiituies, hen wound, the motor for clriw ing the vezhlol, and suchspring is Wound'in a, dir lntjlon'so thst as it unWin'cls the shaft 13 willb efi'otstd to propel'the vehicle inn foi'ii artl irecrtion.

' Secnr'ii' to the shaft D and rotatable therewich'is memberdhaving a'snbstam :ially conical re cess' therein and slidnbly mounted on the shnfi, D is a-meinber (2' subgngonient with the me: be:-

, The momhur a? is supported" in nny'suitsbl manner "that ifi'will beheld a ainst rotation and zirlinstin'g the 111611113 31 to Vhi'y the fric nai eizgugemsnt between the some land member the spsed as; which the spring EHmWintls onbe lycontrollecl. Suit-- conneotions (2 13's! (F ionn ope-rating member 01 lover a? which is" siipporteclin my suitahl'e manner in theninchine so that it"vrillf'ne accessible to this operator ffom sent. Any desired farm of oonneciions and opsmting member these parts diagian'nnatically.

lniinlly conical in shape, which is adapted he moved'inio a 'nol out of irictional- Fixdly'suo'oorzecl in anfv suitable manner l L x -l A in th ff'fil nejfi' the machine 21ml surround,- mg thls-intei'medialishaft is aicasing F and fixedly, sugiportecl in thsm'achine frame snd 'snrronniling thforward shaft D is a simihir' casing G. Positioned Within the casing F'is ahea-vy coilfspiing' F, one end .ofwhich is counselled suitable imam shaft D.

nor to the casing and the other end of. which is connected in any suitable manner. to the Positioned within the casing G is a spring G, one end of which is connected in any suitable manner to the casing and the other end of which is connected to the shaft D. Springs F and G are utilized for winding the spring E to store up power therein in a manner to be hereinafter more particularly set forth, and for this reason the springs F and G are wound in a direction opposite to the spring E.

The adjacent ends of the intermediate shaft D and the rear shaft D carry the members of a friction clutch H, which may be of any well known construction, so that such shafts may, when desired, be coupled together. A suitable Connection IL extends from the movable member of said clutch to an operating member 71, which is conveniently positioned in the machine so as to be readily accessible from the operatorsseat.

The adjacent ends of the front and intermediate shafts D and D have secured thereto similar formed pinions I which are adapted to be. engaged by an internally toothed sleeve 1 when it is desired to couple the shafts D and D together. The sleeve 1 can be adjusted longitudinally a suflicient distance to permit the same to be moved out of engagement with one of the pinions I so as to disconnect the shafts D and D. Longitudinal adjustment of the sleeve 1 is effectedby means of a suitable connection 2' extending therefrom to an operating member i which is positionedin the machine so as to be readily accessible from the opera tors seat. Carriedby each of the shafts D and D is a ratchet wheel K and suitable pawls l; Z2 are-providedwhich are adapted to engage said ratchet wheels to normally prevent rotation of the shafts D and D by the springs F and G, said pawls, however, permitting rotation of the shafts D and D in a direction to place the springs under tension. Means is provided for simultaneously manipulating the pawls k to withdraw the same from en agement with the ratchet wheels K K, said means including a connection L which extends to a suitable operating member k which is conveniently positioned adjacent the seat of the operator so as to be readily accessible therefrom.

In practice, the springs E, F, Gare wound in any suitable manner, and the pawls 7; lby their engagement with' the ratchet wheels K K holding the shafts D and i) from turning. The normal condition .of the clutch if is such that the shafts D and l) ;al'fdiscmmected. lo propel the vehicle the operator manipulates the operating member (1 to withdraw the. conical mem er a from the member (Z on the shaft D thus permitting rotation of said shaft by tho power spring E, which propels the desired to do so.

vehicle. As the vehicle is propelled, the

spring E .unwinds and to effect the rewinding of the spring E the springs F and G are brought into action. This is effected by manipulating the clutch H to connect the shafts D and D and by manipulating the sleeve 1 to connect the shafts D and D. After the shafts D, D and D have been connected-in this manner, the pawls k k are withdrawn from engagement with the ratchet wheels K K thus permitting rotation of the shafts D, D and D in a direction. to cause the rewinding of the spring E. When the spring E has been rewound to the desired extent, the pawls 7c Z: are again engaged with the ratchet wheels K K to 4 hold the shafts D and D against further rotation and the clutch H is manipulated to disconnect the shaft D from the shaft D Means is conveniently provided for utilizing the momentum of the vehicle, when coasting to store up energy in the springs F and G. To this end, a longitudinally disposed shaft L is journaled in suitable bearings carried by the frame of the machine, said shaft being provided at one end with a worm gear L which mesheswith a worm wheel L secured upon the rear axle of the vehicle. The shaft L is provided adjacent the forward end thereof with. a worm wheel 111 which meshes with a worm gear M which is carried by a transversely extending shaft M which is journaled 1n the forward portion of the frame of the machine. Carried by the shaft M is a worm wheel M which meshes with a worm M which is secured upon the shaft D. Secured to the shaft L is a worm wheel N which meshes with a worm N which is'carried by a shaft N which is journaled in suitable hearings in the frame of the machine and extends transversely thereof. The shaft N carries a worm wheel N which meshes with a worm N which is carried by the shaft D. The shaft L is divided intermediate the worm wheel N and the worm gear L and a clutch member L is provided for connecting the separated portions of the shaft, suitable connections extending from the movablemember of said clutch to a point adjacent the operators seat for permitting manipu-. lation thereof. The shaft L is also divided between the worm wheels M and N and a clutch L is provided at this point for connecting the sections of the shaft when it is A suitable connection extends fromthe movable member of the clutch L to an operating member which is ronveniently positioned adjacent the seat of and seen ) 1 SEQ gd liiinn i: u iilifiing' 53H L18 m: sermg up: pmww may; if and 6', ma poweav rimmed dumry 11mm vehici s may 11139 02% made av sperms 'L'he 11-5 wmme-ci: thi simfa L Tue nutezi that by 1 5m springs e mamas-mum at" i] is 'Fmxs, whenever mad m an Anna; the brakes m damn 331m The muz'emeni mi 9113 vehicle W] V hen be fiesissied by the spznxgslf G 211:? as vehicle is brmzgiat To sin a 1: Twin anwunt- (if 'PUWa Wiii be stared up a the springs F and G.

" 11291 3111911 of parts whereby 413 will be appreciated fihe particular m'- the main s ring adapt-mi b9 W .nnci up by the aurnhary spzfingB avoids t im neci'ssaity 01" snppiying scmzrata gear cunnectlons for rswining the 11mm. @mng sc hha t c ne-csnstm-sin' on 1:; much simplified This-canssmct ian spring fiom the mon'mntum V u 1 1 1 The mam sprang can 3e mole uddlfil :zdyantage in rewiridirm fully 'rcwouml from thfimumen'm m of the vehlcie and for be tsien ex" 111*: shghtesir 0f H as of he Jam's mecnmus e, is

1 1'} drawings, i: will be undesz ges may *e mane t0 fihe #uctwui-herem shown W SDPE and 0 as aefizaed 111-2210 appenda l 212 same, and means fax csmvet Q 1e pews? motor vemfile,

this pmpass ath' wntage can gradres to condiilen of the illusti'ziad in the accwngzmying and that many form and conut degaring invention or 291153 0% of sharing up pews i-3.- in :1 mciior 'mhmle.

shaft, spring 51m in ma 1 of mtwfilm SpZiBf and means fur cimve sham: and geaand nae-02: vehicle, a drive shaft, :1 r rotating 52nd dICiVQ smart,

apted to rotate said smsnd A". .1. b nawa a spimg I 1 H L sslte no tne 35117201011 1 aft 11; a 56326 for coup ecand shafi tsgedaer. 1? Vehicle, dz /e Em rsfisati' g said 7 emant W' ring adngtvts 110i:

irs'chicn appsgiie '00 n pewar shafii, n

eans I65. mm?

manually hoiuin an 't s: second am hi hs far s gainm the 'tens' an 6;? its ngyanfi means fin cow zzive shaft and secend 11%; :sgether.

main 5192:1129; driving the vesicle, an auxlliary 5p 6 'mior' adapted c= -5 iirectly 20nnectsd said main spring metal to actin oppasiaion *ihereto to store, up pswer in the mam g 030:3 anni m nus for connect ia an: llial'y motor to said"-"1ain meter.

7. In a motor vehicle, a main. His-i0? driving the vehicle, an auxiliary spring moi-3; to be direccly said main spring motor to act in oppssitian thereto 1'10 store'up pswer in the in spring motor for connecting said mlxliiary. motor to aic} main motor,

lying betwesn said auxiliary a rotating part of e vehicie I spring a 56mm? snai in. a-linei'nentwiih dl-U'G Spring of the auxiliary motor under tension, a clutch in said gearing, releasable means for normally preventing rotation of the rotatable part of the auxiliary motor by its spring, and means for coupling the rotatable member of the auxiliary motor to the drive shaft.

'9. In a motor vehicle, a drive shaft, a power spring associated therewith for rotating said drive shaft, a second shaft in alinement with said power shaft, a coil spring for turning said second shaft wound in a direction opposite to said power spring, a ratchet wheel carried by said second shaft, a movable pawl engaging said ratchet wheel and normally holding said. shaft against rotation by its spring, and a clutch for connecting said second shaft to said drive shaft.

10. In a motor vehicle, a drive shaft, a power spring associated therewith for rotating said drive shaft, a second shaft in alinement with said power shaft, a coil spring for turning said second shaft wound in a direction opposite to said power spring, a ratchet wheel carried by said second shaft, a movable pawl engaging said ratchet wheel and normally holding said shaft against rotation by its spring, gearing between said second shaft and a rotatable part of the vehicle, and a clutch for connecting said sec-' ond shaft to said drive shaft.

' 11. In a motor vehicle, three alined shafts, a power spring associated with one of said shafts and adapted to drive the same in one direction, a spring associated with-each of said other shafts and adapted to drive the same in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the power shaft, movable means for holding all of said shafts against 12. In a motor veh'cle, three alined shafts,

one of which is adrive shaft, a power spring for rotating said drive shaft, a spring associated with each of said other shafts and adapted to rotate the same in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the power shaft, means for normally holding said other shafts against rotation by their springs, a clutch for connecting said other shafts and a clutch between one of said other shafts and said power shaft.

13. In a motor vehicle, longitudinally alined front, intermediate, and rear'shafts, a power spring associated with said rear shaft and adapted to rotate the same to drive the vehicle, a spring associated with said intermediate shaft and adapted to rotate the same in a direction opposite to the direction ofrotation of the drive shaft, :1 spring associated with the front shaft and adapted to rotate the same'in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the drive shaft, means for normally holding said front and intermediate shafts against rotation by their springs, means for coupling the front and intermediate shafts together, gearing between said front and intermediate shafts, and a rotatable part of the vehicle, and a clutch between said intermediate shaft and said drive shaft.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

CAL D. HICKS, CARL SYARVA. 

